Bell Island (The Bahamas)

Bell Island is a private island inside the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, in the island archipelago of the Exumas, which is in turn part of the Lucayan Archipelago. As of 2021, it was a territory of The Bahamas. The island has a surface of 349 acres.[1] Sometimes the island is called Big Bell Island,[2] and it is not to be confused with nearby Little Bell, which is also known as Cambridge Cay.[3]

Bell Island features a heliport and two large homes amid extensive landscaping, in addition to employee housing, etc.[4] Three large guest cottages were renovated at a cost of $8 million, as designed by architects and interior designers of renown.[5]

The island was purchased for $100 million in 2009 and it is controlled by the Agha Khan.[6]

Environment

In 2010, the sea bottom at Conch Cut inside the park was dredged so that the Khan's yacht could dock in the island.[7] Senator Jerome Fitzgerald claimed 13 acres of sea bottom habitats had been destroyed.[8] The Bahamas National Trust, which manages the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, defended the dredging: "We certainly do not agree with those who are calling on the government or the BNT to trap people into owning valuable and highly taxed land but not allow them reasonable access and use."[9]

Visitors

Justin Trudeau's vacation visit in December 2016 and flights on the Khan's private helicopter raised an investigation by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Mary Dawson, insofar as Canadian government ethics rules prohibit a prime minister or cabinet minister from accepting travel on a private aircraft unless prior Ethics Commission clearance is secured.[10][11] The Ethics commission determined that Trudeau's or his wife and children's vacations to Bell Island in December 2014, March 2016, and December 26, 2016 to January 4, 2017, "could reasonably be seen to have been given to influence Mr. Trudeau in his capacity as prime minister." Trudeau said he was "sorry" for these violations of federal laws.[12][13]

John Kerry is another island guest.[14][15]

References
  1. Candace Jackson (July 29, 2011). "My Own Private Island". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 11 May 2021. The Aga Khan, the Muslim spiritual leader and philanthropist, purchased 349-acre Bell Island in 2009 for $100 million, according to public records
  2. "Bell Island" (PDF). Depp.gov.bs. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  3. "Cambridge Cay – Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park". Eclsp.com. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  4. "Evidence of Rock Blasting/Hill Cutting Commence Without Approvals on Bell Island?". Bahamaspress.com. 2010-09-21. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  5. "Bell Island Guest Cottages, The Exumas". Out Island Life. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021. demolishing three large existing guest houses down to basic structure and brought back to Level 5 finishes to internationally renowned architect / interior designers' specifications
  6. "Hollywood's Private Islands: Which Stars Own A Slice Of Paradise? (PHOTOS)". HuffPost.com. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  7. "Pierre Dupuch Speaks again on Bell Island dredging in the Exuma Land and Sea Park!". Bahamaspress.com. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  8. "Fitzgerald: Aga Khan Destruction of the Exuma Sea Park". Bahamaspress.com. 2011-10-10. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  9. "Desecration of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park – Bahamas News". Bahamasb2b.com. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  10. "Aga Khan island that hosted Trudeau owned by company with offshore ties, records show - CBC News". CBC. 2017-09-12. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  11. Akin, David (12 January 2017). "Justin Trudeau admits he used Aga Khan's private helicopter, a potential violation of federal law". National Post.
  12. Zi-Ann Lum (30 July 2020). "Trudeau Doesn't Seem To Know 'Basic' Ethics Rules: Expert". The Huffington Post. p. en. Retrieved 11 May 2021. Trudeau was found to have violated federal laws for accepting family vacations to the Aga Khan's island
  13. "CBC News". CBC. 2017-12-20. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  14. "BONOKOSKI: Trudeau-Kerry's conflab and shades of a Christmas past". Torontosun.com. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  15. "John Kerry vacationed on Aga Khan's private island during Trudeau visit". Cbc.cas. Retrieved 2020-02-08.

24°18′22″N 76°33′28″W

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